A notification on allowing exports would be issued soon, they said.

``Since the food ministry had itself recommended exports of wheat, we have no problem in allowing it,'' the sources said.

When contacted, commerce secretary PP Prabhu said government had already allowed exports of 25,000 tonnes of wheat by private traders to Bangladesh.

He said if wheat exports were profitable then commerce ministry had no problem in allowing it.

Asked about State Trading Corporation (STC) and MMTC asking government permission to export wheat, he said they could ship the foodgrain to Bangladesh.

Though commerce ministry has no reservations in allowing wheat exports, officials wonder if it could be of any use as global prices were far below the government procurement price.

``Imported wheat is available at 120 US dollars, whileprice of our wheat when it reaches the port will be around 190 dollars,'' they said.

Ever since a record 71 million tonnes of wheat production projection was made, the agriculture ministry has been maintaining that India could afford to export at least three million tonnes.

The food ministry has already said it had no objections to wheat exports following surplus stocks and record production.

Almost 60 per cent of the harvest has been completed and government procurement had increased by nearly 70 per cent as compared to procurement during corresponding period last year.

Since April 1, wheat procurement by Food Corporation of India (FCI) had touched nearly 120 lakh tonnes, which is far higher than around 70 lakh tonnes procured during same period last year.

Food ministry authorities are worried over rising stocks and as on April 1, the buffer stocks were over 90 lakh tonnes against the stipulated norm of 40 lakh tonnes. The stocks include rice.

However, what worries officials is the fact thatprocurement price of wheat is Rs 550 a quintal, which is higher than the landing price of imported wheat.

Meanwhile, when asked if government would allow more exports of wheat products than the stipulated one lakh tonnes annually, Prabhu said government was yet to take any decision on it.